Hi All
 
I realize that I'm about to start an argument but here goes.
 
Over the past several years I have been observing hives to see if the
queens would go back down after filling the top brood chamber.  I have
found that about 8 of 10 will.  Those that don't I reverse the chambers.
Most how to books state that the chambers must be switched or else the
bottom will become unused.  One or two books I have read are absolutely
against this practice as being to disruptive.  I tend to agree with this.
The queens that use both chambers on their own, tend to lay in a very large
pattern and thus have a larger population.  When reversing the brood
chambers, the brood nest is broken in to two small nest and the bees have
to reconstruct the oval shape nest each time.
 
This year I am selecting my breeder queens from among those that do not
require reversal.  I plan to continue to try to eliminate the practice of
reversal in my apiary
because of the extra work involved and because it is so disruptive.  Those
queens that require reversal will be replaced.
 
I would like to hear form others on this subject.
 
Frank & Phronsie Humphrey
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